Dip stick wiper



Oct. 6, 1953 s. o. BARNES 2,654,109

DIP STICK WIPER Filed Ilarch 21, 1951 \f1- Gwynn D. Barnes By a... ma...

Patented Oct. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIP STICK WIPER GwynnD. Barnes, San Antonio, Tex. Application March 21, 1951, Serial No.216,687

1 Claim. 1

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a dip stickwiper and more specifically pertains to a device for cleaning a dipstick or oil gauge commonly used to measure the quantity of oil in anautomobile engine.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a dip stick cleanerwhich permits the insertion of an oil-covered dip stick therein andwhich, upon removal of ,said dip stick, effectively and completelyremoves the oil from said dip stick.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for cleaning adip stick which eliminates the use of greasy rags and like devices usedin the prior art for cleaning dip sticks.

An important feature of this invention is to provide a means fordissolving the oil on a dip stick and a further means operablesubsequent to said first means for compressibly receiving andwiping theremaining oil from the dip stick.

Other objects of this invention are found in the provision of a meansfor cleaning a dip stick which performs its function in a simple andexpedient manner; which insures a cleanliness to the user; which issimple and economical to construct; and which is convenient andadaptable for use in service stations and the like.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of theinvention which will later become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by the device, a preferred embodiment of whichhas been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical perspective view of the entire dip stick cleanerseen from the outside;

, cup-shaped bearing element 38.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional longitudinal view showing the interiorof the dip stick cleaner; and taken along the line 2--2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional transverse view taken substantiallyalong the plane of the movable cover l2 on the top thereof. Furthermore, positioned on one side of the container I0 is a small box 14, fora purpose subsequently to be described.

As seen in Figure 2 the receptacle or container I0 is filled to aspecified height with an oil dissolving liquid IB, such as naphtha orthe like. Although the oil solvent I6 is considered an essential elementof the present invention, a further means is believed necessary and istherefore provided for wiping clean any oil on the dip stick, indicatedby the numeral l8.

In this latter regard, a pair of rollers and 22 are provided forreceiving the dip stick l8 therebetween. Each of these rollers, as 20,is journalled in suitable bearing surfaces on opposite sides of thereceptacle l0. As seen in the right hand portion of Figure 4 the roller20 has a medially and terminally located recess 24 wherein is receivedin any suitable manner a bearing cup 26. Stub axles 28 having headedportions 30 and an enlarged portion 32 are secured to the receptacle l0,having the portion 28 received in the cup 26 whereby the roller 20 maypivot or turn therearound. As a further bearing surface between the endof the roller 20 and the adjacent inner surface of the receptacle Hi,there is provided a washer 34 on the enlarged portion 32 of the stubaxle.

On the left hand portion of the roller 20, there will be noted aslightly different arrangement of journalling elements. A similarterminal recess 36 is provided in the roller 20 for reception of aHowever, the bearing element 38 is provided at its outer end with anintegrally or otherwise suitably connected ratchet wheel 40 which issecured, as at 42, to the outer surfaceof the roller 20. A stub axle 44,similar in all manner to the previously described stub axle 28, has anenlarged portion 46 received and secured in the side of the receptacleI0 and is further provided with a head portion 48 abuttingly engagingthe outer surface of the receptacle H1. The elements provided and thusfar described enable the rollers 20 and 22 to freely pivot relative tothe receptacle l0 since it is to be understood that the previousdescription concerning bearing elements applies equally to the roller 22as to the roller 20.

Each of the rollers, as 20, is provided with an outer covering ofabsorbent material 50 secured to the roller 20 for movement therewithand for a purpose subsequently to be described.

Having considered the specific construction of the roller elements 20and 22 it would be well to now examine the. entire construction of thedevice and in general its operation. Accordingly, as noted in Figure 2,each of the rollers 20 and 22 is journaled for pivotal movement near theupper portion of the receptacle l0. These rollers are disposed in atransverse relation to the receptacle l and rotate in oppositedirections being contiguously and preferably compressibly locatedrelative to each other. Therefore, were the dip stick [8 to be removedfrom the position as illustrated in Figure 2, the respective absorbentcoverings 50 of each of the rollers and 22 would appear compressed orflattened at their substantially tangential line of contact. The level,as at 52, of thoil' solvent lt is' high enou'gh rela-' tive to therollers20 and 22 to'permit the covering 50 to extend or to be immersedon the lower portion thereof in the solution.

For the sake of explanation, it will initially be assumed that the dipstick I 8 has not as yet been placed in the position as shown in Figure2 'but rather has just been removed from the engine of an automobile andaccordinglyis'covered' with oil. Upon placing it through the aperture-i4 in the removable cover I2 of the receptacle l0 it is thereby guidedto allow its insertion between the rollers 20 and, as at; As the-dipstick I8 is moved downwardly the-rollers 20and 22 move in clockwise andcounter clockwise directions, respectively, whereby contact with the dipstick I8 is merely of a rolling nature, thereby not permitting asubstantial cleaning or wiping-oi the stick. However, when the dip'stick! S-rea'ches the position as illustrated in Figure 2a'nd' allowedto remain therefor a short period of'time', the oil solvent takes effecton the' oil which has gathered on the Stick' 18 tending 'tor'emoveandloosen the oil'film therefrom. If therollers 20 and 22 were allowedtomove'relative to each other as the dip stick was drawn out; al'cleanoi'the' dip stick I8 resultsinsoiling andotheb.

wise depositing dirt ongthe respective fabric coveringstn' ofthero1lers"20 and 22. However, as previously'described' ther'elativelocation of the rollers and the oil solvent I6'is 'such"that the lowerportions of saidroll'ers' are immersed in the'liquid and it\vlllbenoted, by'an inspection of Figure 2, tha't' the sectors ofth'eperlpheries of the roller fabrics that are soiled as at 60, are thefirst areas to 'be] immersed and therefore cleansed by the oil' solventwhenthe dip stick it is downwardly inserted in the portion 56.

Obviously, over a period of time the fabrics 50 of the rollers20and'22andjthe solution I6 will become contaminated to such an "extentthat further cleaning cannot' be effected. Accordingly, the removablecover [2 of the receptacle it enables access tothe rollers which can bere moved froin'their' journals-by aremoval of the stub axles, 9.5 28 and44', whereby the covering 50 may berenewed; in like manner, the old' andsaturated oilsolvent It may be emptied and replaced with a'cleansolution.

To further enhance-the qualities 0.! the device,

especially in relation to its adaptability for use in quickly servicingcars in gas stations, a simple but convenient means for analyzing thequality of the oil in an engine is provided. The box I4 positioned onthe side of the receptacle H! has a longitudinally disposed slot 62located therein. The box l4 contains a quantity of small paper filters,generally indicated by the numeral 6|, having the top or outermost sheet66 received in theslotii2, the entire package 'of .paper 64 beinginterconnected in the manner of the conventional paper towel disposingunit.

--The manner in which this unit is utilized is as 4 follows. When theuser removes the dip stick ll from the engine of an automobile, a paperfilter I 62 is =also removed from the box 14 and a small portion of theoil on the dip stick [8 is allowed to dropon the paper 62. The clean oilwill filter through the paper 62 leaving the carbon and various otherparticles of contamination visible on the surface of the filter 62. Tothe experienced eye, a rough but approximate idea of the quality of theoil in theengine can be determined and Han accurate analysis is desired,the filter may be'removed to'th'e laboratories for test.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of this device willbe readily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of theforegoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not necessaryto limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described,but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,falling within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the claimed as new is:

A' dip-stick'cleaner comprising a vertically elongated receptacle, aninverted substantially frusto-pyramidal cover removably positioned atthe top of said receptacle and provided at. the center'thereot with adip stick'receiving opening, a quantity of 'an oil-solvent provided insaid receptacle and having its level spaced downwardly from said cover,a pair of horizontal rollers rotatably mounted in said receptacle abovethe level of solvent therein, tubular sleeves of absorbent materialcarried by said rollers and having lower portions thereof immersed insaid solvent, said sleeves being in contact in a vertical plane alignedwith said opening whereby a dip stick may be insertedthrough saidopening between the sleeves and the rollers rotated thereby, and ratchetmeans for preventing rotation of said'roilers when the dip stick iswithdrawn.

GWYNN D. BARNES.

invention, what is References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 788,703 Casterline May 2, 1905 885,497Maibaum Apr. 21, 1908 1,868,170 Jasgur July 19, 1932 1,978,716'Morehouse Oct. 30, 1934 2,089,114 Dietterle Aug. 3, 1937 2,453,452Nielsen Nov. 9, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date a 290,641 GreatBritain Aug. 30, 1928

